Showing posts with label new years. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new years. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

instagram: WEEKLY FAVE 5 DISHES IN TAIPEI- jan 2017


EVERY YEAR, MY NEW YEARS' RESOLUTIONS are more or less the same: eat healthier, exercise more, sleep earlier, declutter and be more organized. Blog more regularly. Print out photos.  Not be late to everything. But then a year has swept by and it's time to look at the progress I've made. I had chips and chocolates this morning while watching the Golden Globes instead of working out, but hey, I did declutter my desk and now I'm typing out this post.

Last year, I had a lot of "firsts"... my first time to Osaka, my first time to Paris, my first time to Guangzhou and I traveled more than I had in awhile. I also went to Tainan for the first time while working with the Culinary Institute of America's team on their series World of Flavors, who put together some amazing footage and coverage in Taipei, Tainan and Kaohsiung. I also worked with Bizarre Foods for the second time behind the scenes, this time with for Delicious Destinations.

Every year I think to myself, how cool would it be to have a 10 Best Dishes of the Year list, but I always find it so hard to narrow it down. I always have a lot of ideas and I want this year to be a year of more action, less words. I want to post things sooner than later, which I'm sure you want too. I want to worry less about what other people think and just go back to this blog being for me, and for when I want to point my friends in the right direction for food so I don't have to scroll through the 30,000+ photos on my phone. Not to worry about what is the most instagrammable or is going to get the most likes, but to talk about places and food that gets ME excited. Because I know that's what you will want to try too.

Places change. People change. Times change. But we keep moving forward and life is short. I'm still learning, trying new things, opportunities that scare me. I'm still discovering new restaurants in Taipei ALL THE TIME. It never ends! But that is a good thing... just need to put it all here (and hope whole paragraphs don't get plagiarized and reformatted as their own content by other travel apps or bloggers) (Yes, it happens and I have proof).

SO.. to kick off this January-first post of 2017, these are five of my favorite dishes from last week that you can try this week! Let's see if I can keep this up on a weekly basis, like a radio song countdown! Until I can throw up full reviews, this will give a sneak peek.


HUNGRYINTAIPEI'S WEEKLY FAVE 5 IN TAIPEI

1. SUGAR PEA's BANANA PANCAKES

Though I was one of the first to post Sugar Pea's banana pancakes, I know I'm not alone in my addiction to them, seeing the flurry of posts in the month afterwards of the food and sunroom selfies. With peanut butter honey sauce to drown the short stack of pancakes and bruleed bananas, I have to resist making this a weekly habit. Everything I've tried here is delicious and I usually find myself also ordering the chipotle chicken bowl, the pancake sliders, the steak salad and sometimes a slice of cake. Get the red velvet if they have it. Currently still in soft opening.
SUGAR PEA, No. 16, Alley 20, Lane 300, RenAi Road, Sec. 4, 仁愛路四段300巷20弄16號 (02) 2325-6188, Closed Mondays and Tuesdays


2. NKU's FRIED PORK SKIN
A few summers ago I got a small paper bag of the bbq pork rinds from Ink Sack in LA. It was one of the best things I had ever put in my mouth. Best because it was crunchy, airy, salty and like eating pork skin cheetos but better. Then this summer, I got a bag from Ink Sack at LAX at the airport and it was one of the worst things I had ever put in my mouth. It was stale, greasy and I had to through the rest of the bag away. So to my surprise, this dish at NKU recaptured that deliciousness, even though they coat it with a white chocolate sauce (can't taste it) and spice powder, so that you will find yourself going back for more even though your new year's resolution was to eat more healthy. The lunch sets here are a great deal for NT$390, but I recommend still ordering some of their dishes to share if you come with a group of people. From what I tried, my other favorites included the bamboo, beef tongue, and duck breast. Snow ball liquid nitro'd coconut dessert fun too. Skip the fried oxtail balls and pork pie. NKU has been opened for about six months or so, with very instagrammable decor, semi open kitchen, but neighbors have hung a sign over their entrance, protesting their wood fire ovens and cooking.
NKU, No. 13, Alley 26, Lane 300, RenAi Rd, Sec. 4, (02) 2701-8025, Closed Tuesdays


3. LA MESA's SHAVED TO ORDER IBERICO HAM


Surprised to have not heard about La Mesa Taipei before, it's a Spanish restaurant open for about four years in Daan district (in the narrow alleys behind Ice Monster). Delicious tapas, paella, full wine list and cozy atmosphere. The iberico ham is paper thin and I savored each bite. La Mesa's must order dishes include the iberico ham, jamon croquettes, pan fried calamari, paella and chorizo in cider and garlic. Prices are also very reasonable and service friendly. Only open for dinner, and open until 2am on weekends.
LA MESA TAIPEI 西班牙風味小酒館, No. 33, Lane 137, Yanji St, Da’an District, (02) 2778-7676

4. WOOLLOOMOOLOO's CHIA PUDDING



It's been awhile since I've been to Woolloomooloo, but they've revved up their breakfast/brunch menu and added over a dozen new things including waffles w ice cream (!) and this chia seed pudding. Might not be as sexy as an Acai bowl, but I enjoyed the coconut flavor along with the crunchy granola and fruit. (NT$280) WXY is one of the rare spots open early (and that has a flat white) and a cafe I used to go to every week until more places opened around town. Also love their meat pie, avocado toast with poached eggs and dessert array. Order the carrot cake if you see it, or the nut tart. WOOLLOOMOOLOO, No. 379, Section 4, Xinyi Rd, Xinyi District, (02) 8789-0128


5. HANYEOGIYO's COLD NOODLES

Hanyeoyigo (韓老二韓國烤肉) is a newish KBBQ place at Neo 19 and Daan District that boasts a pretty full menu including one of my favorites- soupy cold noodles. The server cut it up for us and also gave us a big bottle of vinegar and mustard to customize it. The noodles were chewy and not too soft, and they didn't skimp on the stuff inside, including korean pear, radish, cucumbers, beef and egg. The KBBQ here is mostly pork and beef and the BBQ grill includes steamed egg on the rims that cooks as the server grills your meat. Lettuces and sauces included, but not that much choice in banchan. This spot is only open at night but takes reservations.
HANYEOYIGO (韓老二韓國烤肉),No. 32, Lane 107, Section 1, FuXing S. Rd, Da’an District, (02) 2771-6474

Thursday, December 31, 2009

where can you find... restaurants near 101 to watch Taipei New Year's Eve fireworks afterwards?

Happy new year!

Wherever you are celebrating New Year's Eve, whether it's with the hordes of people in drizzling rain near the 101 Fireworks in Taipei, listening to Mayday, Wang Lee Hom and SHE in front of Taipei City Hall tonight, or celebrating at home with family and friends in front of the TV, have a happy and healthy new year!

I can't believe it's going to be 2010!

If you are looking for last minute place for dinner for Taipei's New Years Eve in the 101 area, you can browse the this label. Everything will probably be packed and crazy, but it's worth a shot if you want to party it up. Keep in mind, there will be a ton of street vendors out tonight though so you can nosh your way through the night too. And of course, you don't have to be in the immediate area to see the fireworks, you can have a great view from across the river in Dazhi or Miramar too.

Here are the eateries in the 101 area off the top of my head- you can search the name in the upper left hand box for the review/number.

Neo 19 building (these eateries are usually packed on weekends, 1 hour plus wait without reservations, probably even crazier tonight)
-Macaroni Grill
-Chili's
-Ton Sushi
-Momo Paradise
-Watami
-new Thai place spotted

Vieshow building
-Food court
-Bellini Pasta Pasta

Mitsukoshi
-Thai Town
-Saboten tonkatsu
-Liang Ban Jia Korean BBQ
-Shanghai Shanghai
-Chun Tsui Tang
-Gordon Biersch
-Paul

NYNY building
-Food court
-Cafe Grazie
-Suzette Crepes
-McD's
-Mr.Donut/Starbucks/Coldstone's

101
-Jiu Riu
-Crystal Spoon Thai
-Shinyeh 101
-Food court

Bellavita
-L'Atelier Robuchon
-Ton Sushi
-Food court

Grand Hyatt Hotel
-Ziga Zaga
-Pearl Liang
-Cafe
-Cheers

nearby 101
-Chez Jimmy
-Joyce East
-NY Bagel
-Outback
-Da Fang Teppanyaki
-Micasa
-Agora Garden Hotel
-Brown Sugar
-Xinyi Eslite Mall

I'm curious if any of you readers are eating out here tonight and if so, what are the crowds/wait like?

Friday, January 09, 2009

happy new year!



Happy New Year!

Even though the 2008 New Year's Eve fireworks were not as jaw dropping as previous years (I think if they had just made the finale more final, then it would have been more memorable), it's still a sight to see fireworks spiraling off Taipei 101. Even more of a sight is all the people who come out and crowd the streets into the wee hours of the new year.

It's been amazing to grow this blog with you guys and I look forward to 2009 being another year of good eats, new discoveries, more readers and comments, but with less weight gained. LOL.



In Taiwan, the new year festivities continue on to Chinese New Year which is at the end of January/beginning of February. This is the year of the Ox, which is "the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work," according to Wikipedia.

So I should get cracking. I finally uploaded all the pictures and tabulated the "Best Of" readers poll, so there will be some new posts in the coming weeks. Here are some of the places that are on my permanent to-do list.. maybe if I declare them here, it'll set a deadline for me to write them up quicker, rather than having post holiday writer's block when looking at the pictures.

-Peanut, cilantro and ice cream wrap and street eats near Longshan Temple
-Famous Larry's New Year Pizza
-Tenpura Sanuki Udon revisited (it moved from Xinyi Vieshow to Bistro 98!)
-Chao Ping Ji dim sum at San Want Hotel
-Ramen Kagetsu Arashi at Xinyi Vieshow
-Tripod King Spicy Hotpot (Ding Won)
-Ding Won (but not Tripod King) Spicy Hotpot
-Curry Champ
-El Gallo
-Crown & Fancy Bakery
-Chia Chia Steak
-Sukhothai at Sheraton Taipei
-Patara revisted (now called Patio)
-Big Tom Ice Cream
-Cheesecakes from Howard Plaza
-Stinky tofu and Street eats in Shihlin
-Beef Noodle Soup in Kaohsiung
-Hong Kong restaurants and dim sum
-Yong He Dou Jiang

I was sad to hear someone post that Mamm Goz has closed? I'm sad... wish I had a chance to eat there again before they closed. The last time I went there was in April 2008. Does anyone know why?

Monday, January 01, 2007

happy new year from taipei!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Can you believe it's 2007 already??!!!





Had a nice dinner at the Ambassador Hotel and then some late night snacks at a company party.


finger foods





shark fin soup



shabu shabu pork- super tender- try both dipping sauces...


and shabu shabu broth and vegetables..


dessert- peanut soup and chinese doughnut sticks



I was an invited guest, so I don't know how much the dinner was, but everything tasted delicious and the service was great. So I would recommend Szechuan Court also since this hotel has been around for a very long time- probably one of the first international hotels in Taipei.


angel cakes




I must be getting old... it's not even 2AM and I'm probably going to turn in for the night. I'm just glad I'm not stuck in the traffic.. it was madness after midnight.


crazy crazy traffic jam near taipei 101



people going on the subway




SZECHUAN COURT
at AMBASSADOR HOTEL, 12 FL
No.63, Chung Shan N Road, Sec 2
Taipei 104 Taiwan

(02)2100-2100 Ext.2383

ambassadorhotel.com.tw

Lunch: 11:3AM~2:00PM
Dinner: 5:30~9:00PM

$$-$$$

date visited: 12/31/2006

:)